NASA astronaut Anil Menon to embark on first ISS mission

Anil Menon, a NASA astronaut, will embark on his inaugural mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2026 as a flight engineer for Expedition 75. He will travel aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft, accompanied by cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, departing from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The mission will span approximately eight months, during which the crew will conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations focused on preparing for future space endeavors. This work aligns with NASA's ongoing objective of contributing to advancements that benefit humanity.

Menon was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021 and completed his training in preparation for this assignment. He possesses degrees in neurobiology, mechanical engineering, and medicine, and is a colonel in the United States Space Force, where he also practices emergency medicine and instructs at the University of Texas.

NASA has maintained nearly 25 years of continuous research aboard the ISS, emphasizing essential scientific investigations that facilitate upcoming human spaceflight missions, including those aimed at the Moon and Mars as part of the Artemis program. These initiatives are intended to enhance commercial opportunities in LEO Constellation (Low Earth Orbit) (LEO) and beyond.